Dementia can be hard to spot because it's a collection of symptoms. If you're trying to determine whether someone you know has dementia, it's important to get a professional diagnosis. Just having some of the listed symptoms doesn't necessarily mean that a person has dementia. In order for a person to be diagnosed, they have to show more than two. Forecastle Home Health lists 10 common signs and symptoms. Is your loved one displaying any of these behaviors?

1. Short-term Memory

You might notice a person can remember things from several years ago, but they can't remember things that require their short-term memories, such as what they ate that morning.

2. Difficulty in Speaking

You might notice that a person has problems with communication. Conversations take longer as a person with dementia might have trouble finding the right words to express what they want to say.

3. Mood Changes

Mood changes are normal for everyone, but in dementia, the mood swings aren't always recognizable to the one experiencing them. Also, personality changes are an indicator of dementia because dementia can affect judgement.

4. Apathy

Apathy becomes apparent in a person suffering from dementia because they lose interest in hobbies and activities they once enjoyed.

5. Difficulty in Completing Familiar Tasks

If a task has several rules to remember, it can be confusing to complete or learn for a person who has dementia.

The other five signs and symptoms are available on the Forecastle website. To read the original article, click here. For more dementia-related resources, see our resources page.